Radiographic image capturing device and method
Summary by NHIP
Mark-guided radiographic device
The device captures images by moving a support unit to align a capturing unit with a selected mark on a displayed radiographic image. A radiation range limiting unit restricts the emitted beam to the shape and size of that selected mark while the support unit positions the capture area accordingly.
Claim Score by NHIP
Abstract
A radiographic image capturing device includes a capturing unit that captures a radiographic image based on radiation (for example, X-rays) which penetrates through an object. A system control section extracts one still image from the radiographic image that is captured by the capturing unit, and displays the extracted still image on a second display section of a graphical user interface. The system control section displays a mark on a predetermined portion, which corresponds to a portion to be subjected to surgery, of the still image that is displayed on the second display section. When the mark that is displayed on the still image is selected, the system control section performs control of capturing an image of a corresponding portion of the object that corresponds to the predetermined portion using the capturing unit.
Term
5.2 yearsleft in the term
Expires 13 December 2031, including 915 days of term adjustment.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Today
- Expires
17 claims: 3 independent, 14 dependent
- 1Broadest claimClaim Score 44, average(NHIP)A radiographic image capturing device comprising:a radiation generating unit configured to emit radiation;a capturing unit configured to capture a radiographic image of an object based on radiation that is emitted from the radiation generating unit and that penetrates through the object;a support unit configured to support the radiation generating unit and the capturing unit;a radiation range limiting unit that is provided between the radiation generating unit and the object, and that is configured to limit a radiation range of the radiation which is emitted from the radiation generating unit onto the object;a display unit configured to display the radiographic image;a mark display control unit configured to perform control of displaying a selected mark selected from among a plurality of marks on the radiographic image displayed on the display unit;and a position control unit to control a position of the support unit in accordance with a position of the selected mark so that the capturing unit captures a radiographic image of a portion of the object that corresponds to the selected mark, wherein the radiation range limiting unit limits the radiation range of the radiation in accordance with a shape and a size of the selected mark.
- 16A method for driving a radiographic image capturing device to capture a radiographic image, the method comprising:irradiating an object with radiation emitted from a radiation generating unit;a capturing step of capturing a radiographic image of the object with a capturing unit based on the radiation emitted from the radiation generating unit and that penetrates through the object;a radiation range limiting step of limiting a radiation range of the radiation which is emitted from the radiation generating unit onto the object, by using a radiation range limiting unit that is provided between the radiation generating unit and the object;a display step of displaying the radiographic image on a display unit;a mark display control step of performing control of displaying a selected mark selected from among a plurality of marks on the radiographic image displayed on the display unit;and a position control step of controlling a position of a support unit in accordance with a position of the selected mark so that the capturing unit captures a radiographic image of a portion of the object that corresponds to the selected mark, wherein in the radiation range limiting step, the radiation range limiting unit limits the radiation range of the radiation in accordance with a shape and a size of the selected mark.
- 17A radiographic image capturing device comprising:a radiation generating unit configured to emit radiation;a capturing unit configured to capture a radiographic image of an object based on radiation that is emitted from the radiation generating unit and that penetrates through the object;a radiation range limiting unit that is provided between the radiation generating unit and the object, and that is configured to limit a radiation range of the radiation which is emitted from the radiation generating unit onto the object;a display unit configured to display the radiographic image;a mark display control unit configured to perform control of displaying a selected mark selected from among a plurality of marks on the radiographic image displayed on the display unit;wherein the radiation range limiting unit limits the radiation range of the radiation in accordance with a shape and a size of the selected mark so that the capturing unit captures a radiographic image of a portion of the object that corresponds to the selected mark;a storage unit configured to store an attribute information table in which, for each of the plurality of marks that is displayed by the mark display control unit, attribute information concerning the selected mark is specified, and a superimposing unit configured to superimpose, when image capturing is performed by the capturing unit at a position of the selected mark, the radiographic image on the selected mark.
Independent claims3
152 paragraphs in 5 sections, as filed
TECHNICAL FIELD
p-0002The present invention relates to a radiographic image capturing device including a capturing unit that captures a radiographic image based on radiation which penetrates through an object, and a radiographic image capturing method.
BACKGROUND ART
p-0003Hitherto, X-ray image capturing devices that capture images capturing of objects using X-rays, which are a type of radiation, thereby obtaining X-ray images, have become widespread mainly in medical fields. More particularly, interventional radiology (IVR) has become widespread in sites of medical treatment. In the IVR, a person (a doctor) that performs surgery finds a vascular occlusion portion or cancer cells of an object using angiography, and the person treats the vascular occlusion portion or the cancer cells using a balloon or a stent that is inserted into a blood vessel of the object under fluoroscopy. In the IVR, because insertion of a balloon or a stent into an object (a subject person) or control of the balloon or the stent needs to be performed under fluoroscopy, an X-ray image capturing device including a television (TV) system is used. In the above-mentioned IVR, a contrast medium is injected into a blood vessel (for example, a coronary artery) of a portion, which is to be subjected to surgery, of an object, and capturing of a fluoroscopic image (a radiographic image) of the portion to be subjected to surgery is performed. A person (a doctor) that performs surgery treats a vascular occlusion portion, cancer cells, or the like using a balloon or a stent while the person is looking at the captured fluoroscopic image (radiographic image). In this case, in order to carefully look at the portion to be subjected to surgery, a system in which a portion of a fluoroscopic image is specified and in which the specified portion is displayed in an enlarged manner has been proposed, for example, as disclosed in Patent Citation 1 given below.
p-0004However, in a case in which a treatment act using the IVR is performed, when only a portion, which is to be subjected to surgery, of an object is displayed in an enlarged manner, it is difficult to grasp a position at which the portion to be subjected to surgery is located on a portion (for example, the heart), whose image should be captured, of the object. Accordingly, there is a probability that efficiency of the treatment act is reduced. For this reason, typically, it is necessary to capture an image of the entirety of the portion whose image should be captured. As a result, there is a problem that the dose of X-rays (radiation) with which the object (a subject person) is irradiated is increased. <ul><li id="ul0001-0001" num="0004">Patent Citation 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-260381</li></ul>
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
p-0005The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to make it possible to grasp the positional relationships between a portion, whose image should be captured, of an object and a portion, which is to be subjected to surgery, of the object, and to realize reduction in dose of radiation with which the object is irradiated.
p-0006According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing a radiographic image capturing device including the following elements: a capturing unit configured to capture a radiographic image based on radiation that penetrates through an object; an extraction unit configured to extract one still image from the radiographic image that is captured by the capturing unit; a still-image display control unit configured to perform control of displaying the still image that is extracted by the extraction unit on a user interface;
p-0007a mark display control unit configured to perform control of displaying a mark on a predetermined portion of the still image that is displayed on the user interface; and a capture control unit configured to perform, when the mark displayed on the still image is selected, control of capturing an image of a corresponding portion of the object that corresponds to the predetermined portion using the capturing unit.
p-0008Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
p-0009The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
p-0010<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an X-ray image capturing device (a radiographic image capturing device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
p-0011<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure in a method for driving the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
p-0012<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an illustration showing an example of a fluoroscopic image (a radiographic image) that is obtained by capturing which is performed in step S<b>201</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.
p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an illustration showing an example of a graphical user interface (GUI) that is used in the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is an illustration showing a still image that is displayed in a display region shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>.
p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is an illustration showing an example of binarized data that is obtained by performing a binarization process on an angiogram of a blood vessel shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.
p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an illustration showing an example in which a thinning process is performed on the binarized data shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>.
p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is an illustration showing an example in which width vectors whose lengths are equal to or narrower than a threshold are calculated using width-vector lengths (hn) shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>.
p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of vascular occlusion portions that are detected from the angiogram of the blood vessel shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.
p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is an illustration showing an example of a method for superimposing a mark on a still image that is displayed in step S<b>202</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.
p-0020<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is an illustration showing an example in which vascular occlusion portions (potential portions to be treated) are marked with marks in the GUI that is used in the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
p-0021<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is an illustration showing an example of an attribute information table concerning marks that are displayed in step S<b>204</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.
p-0022<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is an illustration showing an example of a fluoroscopic image (a radiographic image) that is obtained by capturing which is performed in step S<b>206</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.
p-0023<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure in a method for driving an X-ray image capturing device (a radiographic image capturing device) according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
p-0024<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is an illustration showing an example of a GUI that is used in the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
p-0025<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is an illustration showing an example of an attribute information table concerning marks that are displayed in step S<b>1404</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>.
p-0026<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 17</figref> is an illustration showing an example of position information and size information that are listed in the attribute information table concerning marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>.
p-0027<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 18</figref> is an illustration showing an example of the GUI after a process of step S<b>1407</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is performed.
p-0028<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 19</figref> is an illustration showing an example of the GUI after a process of step S<b>1409</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is performed.
p-0029<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 20</figref> is an illustration showing an example of a fluoroscopic image (a radiographic image) that is displayed by performing a display process of step S<b>1411</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>.
p-0030<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 21</figref> is an illustration showing an example of the GUI in a case in which a system finish button shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 19</figref> is operated.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
p-0031Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.
p-0032In each of the embodiments of the present invention that are described below, an example of an X-ray image capturing device in which X rays are applied as radiation is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to the X-ray image capturing device. For example, a radiographic image capturing device that captures a radiographic image based on another type of radiation such as alpha rays, beta rays, or gamma rays can also be applied.
h-0006First Embodiment
p-0033First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
p-0034<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a schematic diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an X-ray image capturing device (a radiographic image capturing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this case, because an X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> captures an X-ray image that is used for a diagnosis of an object <b>200</b>, the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> can also be referred to as an “X-ray image diagnostic device”.
p-0035As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a top board <b>101</b> and a C-arm (a C-arm mechanism) <b>121</b> are provided in the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b>. Furthermore, the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> includes various types of control sections (<b>110</b> to <b>140</b>), an X-ray generation section <b>131</b>, an aperture <b>141</b>, an X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b>, an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion section <b>161</b>, an image processing section <b>162</b>, a first display section <b>170</b>, a recording section <b>180</b>, and a GUI <b>190</b>. More specifically, the various types of control sections include a system control section <b>110</b>, a C-arm control section <b>120</b>, an X-ray control section <b>130</b>, and an aperture control section <b>140</b>.
p-0036Additionally, the X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b> includes an image intensifier <b>151</b> and a capturing unit <b>152</b>. Moreover, the GUI <b>190</b> includes a second display section <b>191</b> and an input section <b>192</b>.
p-0037The top board <b>101</b> is, for example, a board on which the object (a subject person) <b>200</b> lies down.
p-0038The X-ray generation section <b>131</b> and the aperture <b>141</b> are provided on one end of the C-arm <b>121</b>, and the X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b> is provided on the other end of the C-arm <b>121</b>. In other words, the C-arm <b>121</b> is configured as a supporting section that supports the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> and the aperture <b>141</b>, and the X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b>. The C-arm <b>121</b> is configured so that the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> and the X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b> sandwich the object <b>200</b> placed on the top board <b>101</b> and face each other.
p-0039The system control section <b>110</b> exercises overall control of operations that are performed in the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> controls, as necessary, each section that is provided in the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b>.
p-0040The C-arm control section <b>120</b> is configured as a position control section that controls the position of the C-arm <b>121</b> in accordance with control which is performed by the system control section <b>110</b>. More specifically, the C-arm control section <b>120</b> drives the C-arm <b>121</b>, thereby moving the C-arm <b>121</b> to a position at which an image is to be captured on the object <b>200</b>.
p-0041The X-ray generation section <b>131</b> includes an X-ray tube that generates X-rays. When the object <b>200</b> exists between the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> and the X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b>, the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> irradiates the object <b>200</b> with X-rays. In other words, the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> is configured as a radiation generating section that irradiates the object <b>200</b> with radiation. The X-ray control section <b>130</b> sends, in accordance with control that is performed by the system control section <b>110</b>, an X-ray-tube drive signal to the X-ray generation section <b>131</b>, thereby controlling the X-rays that are emitted from the X-ray generation section <b>131</b>.
p-0042The aperture <b>141</b> is provided in front of the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> (i.e., between the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> and the object <b>200</b>), and is an X-ray radiation field aperture that adjusts a radiation field of the X-rays which are emitted from the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> onto the object <b>200</b>. In other words, the aperture <b>141</b> is configured as a limit section that limits the radiation range of the X-rays which are emitted from the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> onto the object <b>200</b>. The aperture control section <b>140</b> performs control of driving the aperture <b>141</b> in accordance with control that is performed by the system control section <b>110</b>. In other words, the aperture control section <b>140</b> is configured as a radiation-range control section that controls the radiation range of the X-rays using the aperture <b>141</b>.
p-0043The X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b> performs, in accordance with control that is performed by the system control section <b>110</b>, a process of receiving X-rays that penetrate through the object <b>200</b> as an image. More specifically, the image intensifier <b>151</b> of the X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b> converts a radiolucent image that is formed using X-rays which penetrate through the object <b>200</b> into an optical image. The capturing unit <b>152</b> of the X-ray image receiving section <b>150</b> is configured, for example, using a TV camera or the like. The capturing unit <b>152</b> is a capturing unit that captures, as an image (image signals) which is formed using (analog) electric signals, the optical image which is supplied from the image intensifier <b>151</b>.
p-0044The A/D conversion section <b>161</b> performs, in accordance with control that is performed by the system control section <b>110</b>, a process of converting the analog image signals that are output from the capturing unit <b>152</b> into digital image signals.
p-0045The image processing section <b>162</b> performs, in accordance with control that is performed by the system control section <b>110</b>, image processing, such as changing of contrast or gamma characteristics, on the digital image signals that are output from the A/D conversion section <b>161</b>, thereby obtaining image data. The image processing section <b>162</b> outputs the image data.
p-0046The first display section <b>170</b> displays an image on the basis of the image data that is output from the image processing section <b>162</b>. In this case, for example, the first display section <b>170</b> displays a captured image that is a moving image of the object <b>200</b> which is captured by the capturing unit <b>152</b>. Furthermore, the first display section <b>170</b> displays, as necessary, an image that is reproduced on the basis of image data which is recorded in the recording section <b>180</b> (for example, image data of the moving image that is captured by the capturing unit <b>152</b>).
p-0047In the recording section <b>180</b>, image data of a still image that is extracted while images of the object <b>200</b> are being captured is recorded (stored). In this case, regarding a process of extracting a still image to be recorded in the recording section <b>180</b>, a configuration may be used, in which the process is performed by the image processing section <b>162</b>. Alternatively, a configuration may be used, in which the process is performed by the system control section <b>110</b>. Herein, in the first embodiment, the configuration in which the process is performed by the system control section <b>110</b> is used as one example. Furthermore, in the recording section <b>180</b>, as necessary, the image data of the captured image (the moving image) which has been subjected to image processing by the image processing section <b>162</b> or various types of information that is used for processes which are performed by the system control section <b>110</b> are recorded.
p-0048The GUI <b>190</b> displays information for a user and so forth on the second display section <b>191</b>, and is a user interface for inputting, to the system control section <b>110</b>, an instruction that is provided by the user via the input section <b>192</b> which is an input section.
p-0049In the first embodiment, the system control section <b>110</b> is realized, for example, using the main body of a personal computer (PC) and using application software that operates on the PC. For example, the system control section <b>110</b> receives image data of a still image that is recorded in the recording section <b>180</b> and that was extracted from a moving image. The system control section <b>110</b> performs detection of a marking range and superimposing of marks on the still image, which are described below. The system control section <b>110</b> displays the still image with the marks on the second display section <b>191</b>. Furthermore, the system control section <b>110</b> generates operation commands in accordance with input contents that are input to the input section <b>192</b>, and sends the operation commands to the C-arm control section <b>120</b> and the aperture control section <b>140</b>. In addition, for example, the system control section <b>110</b> sends an X-ray radiation signal to the X-ray control section <b>130</b> so that the X-ray control section <b>130</b> generates the X-ray-tube drive signal. The input section <b>192</b> is configured, for example, using a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel, and is used to provide an instruction for marking and to perform various types of operations using buttons.
p-0050Next, a procedure in a method for driving the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> will be described.
p-0051<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure in the method for driving the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Note that an example in which a blood vessel of the object <b>200</b> is applied as an object whose image is to be captured by the capturing unit <b>152</b> is described with reference to the flowchart shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.
h-0007Step S<b>201</b>
p-0052In step S<b>201</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs, for example, in accordance with information that is input from the input section <b>192</b> or the like, control of capturing an image of the entirety of a portion, whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b> in order to specify portions, which are to be treated, of the object <b>200</b> (i.e., portions, which are to be subjected to surgery, of the object <b>200</b>).
p-0053More specifically, first, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of driving the C-arm <b>121</b> so that an image of the entirety of a portion (for example, the heart), whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b> can be captured. In addition, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of driving the aperture <b>141</b> to adjust the radiation field of X-rays, and starts image capturing. After that, the system control section <b>110</b> continues image capturing, so that the system control section <b>110</b> captures a moving image of the entirety of the portion, whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b>. For example, when a contrast medium is injected into the blood vessel of the object <b>200</b> via a catheter in a state in which X-rays are emitted from the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> onto the object <b>200</b>, a fluoroscopic image (an X-ray image) showing a state in which the contrast medium is flowing in the blood vessel is displayed on the first display section <b>170</b> in real time.
p-0054<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is an illustration showing an example of the fluoroscopic image (the X-ray image) that is obtained by capturing which is performed in step S<b>201</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. Herein, <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows a display screen of the first display section <b>170</b>.
p-0055In the X-ray image shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, for example, a state of the entirety of the portion (in this example, the heart), whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b> is illustrated. Furthermore, in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, examples of portions to be treated <b>301</b>, <b>302</b>, and <b>303</b> of a blood vessel <b>300</b> of the heart are shown.
h-0008Step S<b>202</b>
p-0056Next, in step S<b>202</b>, for example, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of extracting, in accordance with an instruction that is input to the input section <b>192</b> of the GUI <b>190</b> by a user (a doctor or the like), one still image from the moving image that was captured in step S<b>201</b>.
p-0057More specifically, in the first embodiment, the user selects, by operating a button (a still-image extraction button <b>403</b> that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> described below) of the GUI <b>190</b> in a state in which the contrast medium extends into the blood vessel of the heart, an image frame with which vascular occlusion portions can be most easily detected. In this case, the system control section <b>110</b> extracts, in accordance with a selection operation that is performed by the user, a still image with which vascular occlusion portions can be easily detected. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs the above-mentioned extraction process is configured as an extraction section. The system control section <b>110</b> performs control of displaying the extracted still image on the second display section <b>191</b> of the GUI <b>190</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs control of displaying the extracted still image as mentioned above is configured as a still-image display control section.
p-0058The details of the above-mentioned process of step S<b>202</b> will be described below.
p-0059<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of the GUI <b>190</b> that is used in the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Herein, <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows a display screen of the second display section <b>191</b>.
p-0060A display region <b>401</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a region in which a still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>that was extracted in step S<b>202</b> is displayed. Furthermore, various types of buttons (<b>402</b> to <b>408</b>) shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> each correspond to the input section <b>192</b> of the GUI <b>190</b>, and are configured using touch panels in the present example. More specifically, in the example shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the various types of buttons include an entire image capture button <b>402</b>, a still-image extraction button <b>403</b>, a zoom-in button <b>404</b>, a zoom-out button <b>405</b>, a move button <b>406</b>, a details button <b>407</b>, and a save button <b>408</b>. Furthermore, the move button <b>406</b> includes a move-right button <b>406</b><i>r</i>, a move-left button <b>4061</b>, a move-up button <b>406</b><i>u</i>, and a move-down button <b>406</b><i>d. </i>
p-0061When the still-image extraction button <b>403</b> is selected by the user, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of sending an instruction to the image processing section <b>162</b>, and of extracting, as a still image, an image frame that is displayed on the first display section <b>170</b> at a point in time in which the still-image extraction button <b>403</b> is selected. Simultaneously, the system control section <b>110</b> obtains, from the C-arm control section <b>120</b>, position information that was obtained at a point in time in which the extracted still image was captured, and displays the position information together with the extracted still image in the GUI <b>190</b>. More specifically, in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, an example is shown, in which the extracted still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>is displayed in the display region <b>401</b>, and in which the obtained position information is displayed as position information <b>409</b>.
p-0062In the above-described example, a configuration is described, in which a still image is extracted through a user operation in which the GUI <b>190</b> is operated by the user while a moving image of the object <b>200</b> is being captured. However, in the first embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be used, in which, after capturing of a moving image finishes in order to specify portions, which are to be treated, of the object <b>200</b> (portions, which are to be subjected to surgery, of the object <b>200</b>), the moving image (image data) that is stored in the recording section <b>180</b> is reproduced on the first display section <b>170</b>, and in which an image that is selected through a manual operation by the user (the doctor or the like) is extracted from the moving image. In this case, the image (which is a still image) that is selected by the user through the manual operation using the GUI <b>190</b> is displayed in the GUI <b>190</b>.
h-0009Step S<b>203</b>
p-0063Next, in step S<b>203</b>, for example, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of detecting, on the basis of a result of image processing performed by the image processing section <b>162</b>, vascular occlusion portions from the still image that was extracted in step S<b>202</b>. The details of the process of step S<b>203</b> will be described below.
p-0064<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a schematic illustration showing the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>that is displayed in the display region <b>401</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. A state of the blood vessel <b>300</b> into which the contrast medium is injected is illustrated in the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. Herein, because the tone of a portion of the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>corresponding to the blood vessel <b>300</b> into which the contrast medium is injected becomes high, pixels having tones that are equal to or higher than a fixed reference value are extracted, whereby an angiogram of the blood vessel <b>300</b> can be generated.
p-0065Next, a binarization process is performed on the angiogram of the blood vessel <b>300</b> to obtain binarized data. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of binarized data <b>601</b> that is obtained by performing the binarization process on the angiogram of the blood vessel <b>300</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>.
p-0066Next, a thinning process is performed on the binarized data <b>601</b>. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example in which the thinning process is performed on the binarized data <b>601</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. A centerline <b>701</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is calculated with the thinning process. After that, width vectors that are perpendicular to the centerline <b>701</b> are calculated, and width-vector lengths (hn) <b>702</b> are calculated at fixed spacings.
p-0067Next, each of the width-vector lengths (hn) <b>702</b> is compared with a threshold, and the width vectors whose lengths are equal to or narrower than the threshold are calculated. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example in which the width vectors whose lengths are equal to or narrower than the threshold are calculated using the width-vector lengths (hn) <b>702</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>. An extracted region <b>801</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is extracted using vector coordinates of the width vectors whose lengths are equal to or narrower than the threshold and which have been calculated in this manner, and the extracted region <b>801</b> is considered as a vascular occlusion portion (a potential portion to be treated).
p-0068<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> is a schematic illustration showing examples of vascular occlusion portions that are detected from the angiogram of the blood vessel <b>300</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>. A group of width vectors whose lengths are equal to or narrower than the threshold is calculated along the angiogram of the blood vessel <b>300</b> with the above-described process, whereby vascular occlusion portions <b>901</b>, <b>902</b>, and <b>903</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> can be extracted.
h-0010Step S<b>204</b>
p-0069Next, in step S<b>204</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of displaying marks on the vascular occlusion portions that were detected in step S<b>203</b> for the still image that was displayed in step S<b>202</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs control of displaying marks as mentioned above is configured as a mark display control section. In this case, the system control section <b>110</b> also performs a process of recording attribute information concerning the displayed marks as an attribute information table, for example, in the recording section <b>180</b>. The details of the process of step S<b>204</b> will be described below.
p-0070<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of a method for superimposing a mark on the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>that was displayed in step S<b>202</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.
p-0071A vascular occlusion portion <b>1001</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> is displayed as a rectangular region defined using P<b>1</b> (Xp<b>1</b>, Yp<b>1</b>), P<b>2</b> (Xp<b>2</b>, Yp<b>2</b>), P<b>3</b> (Xp<b>3</b>, Yp<b>3</b>), and P<b>4</b> (Xp<b>4</b>, Yp<b>4</b>). When the center point of the rectangular region that corresponds to the vascular occlusion portion <b>1001</b> is defined as P<b>0</b> (Xp<b>0</b>, Yp<b>0</b>), a mark <b>1002</b> is displayed as a graphics frame having the central point P<b>0</b> serving as a center and a radius (distance) of L. In the first embodiment, a configuration is used, in which a default shape of the mark <b>1002</b> is a circular shape, and in which the mark <b>1002</b> can be displayed as an octagonal graphics frame, a rectangular graphics frame, or the like in accordance with the shape of the aperture <b>141</b> that is configured, for example, using a collimator.
p-0072<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example in which vascular occlusion portions (potential portions to be treated) are marked with marks in the GUI <b>190</b> that is used in the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, in the GUI <b>190</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, an example is shown, in which vascular occlusion portions (potential portions to be treated) that correspond to predetermined portions of the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>are marked with circular marks <b>1101</b>, <b>1102</b>, and <b>1103</b>.
p-0073<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of the attribute information table concerning the marks that are displayed in step S<b>204</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. As described above, the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> is recorded, for example, in the recording section <b>180</b>.
p-0074Herein, in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> in the first embodiment, for each mark, a shape of the mark, a color (initial color) of the mark, position information and size information concerning the mark, and so forth are shown in relation to one another. Herein, for example, the central point P<b>0</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> can be applied as the position information. For example, the radius (distance) of L shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> can be applied as the size information. Note that the above-described position information and size information are examples, and a configuration in which other information is used as the position information and size information may be used. Furthermore, in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref>, for example, a mark <b>1</b> corresponds to the mark <b>1101</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, a mark <b>2</b> corresponds to the mark <b>1102</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, and a mark <b>3</b> corresponds to the mark <b>1103</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>.
h-0011Step S<b>205</b>
p-0075Next, in step S<b>205</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of specifying, in accordance with an instruction that is input to the input section <b>192</b> of the GUI <b>190</b> by the user (the doctor or the like), a portion to be treated. The details of the process of step S<b>205</b> will be described below.
p-0076The marks <b>1101</b> to <b>1103</b> that were first shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> on the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>in step S<b>204</b> are considered as a group of potential portions to be treated. When the user adjusts the position or size of one of the marks through an operation using the GUI <b>190</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> specifies a portion to be treated corresponding to the mark in accordance with the operation. In this case, the mark can be removed, or a mark can be added.
p-0077First, when adjustment to the size of a mark is performed so that the mark is enlarged/reduced, the target mark is set to be in an active state by clicking the mouse that is the input section <b>192</b>, and then, the zoom-in button <b>404</b> or the zoom-out button <b>405</b> is selected, whereby the mark can be enlarged or reduced. Furthermore, when adjustment to the position of a mark is performed so that the mark is moved, similarly, the mark is set to be in the active state by clicking the mouse, and then, the move button <b>406</b> (any one of the move-right button <b>406</b><i>r</i>, the move-left button <b>4061</b>, the move-up button <b>406</b><i>u</i>, and the move-down button <b>406</b><i>d</i>) is selected, whereby the mark can be moved. In the first embodiment, in addition to using the above-mentioned operation method in which one of the buttons is selected, a mark can be moved and enlarged/reduced by directly dragging and dropping the mark to a target position. Moreover, when displaying of a mark on a new portion to be treated is performed, for example, a portion to be treated is specified on the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>using the mouse or the like, whereby a mark having a predetermined size can be displayed at the position of the specified portion to be treated.
h-0012Step S<b>206</b>
p-0078Next, in step S<b>206</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of capturing an image used for surgery or treatment, i.e., control of capturing a fluoroscopic image of the portion to be treated that was specified in step S<b>205</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs control of capturing an image as mentioned above is configured as a capture control section.
p-0079More specifically, when the user selects a region of the predetermined mark by double-clicking the mouse, the system control section <b>110</b> starts capturing of a fluoroscopic image of the portion to be treated that is a corresponding portion of the object <b>200</b> which corresponds to the region of the predetermined mark. In this case, the system control section <b>110</b> reads the position information and the size information concerning the predetermined mark from the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref>. The system control section <b>110</b> sends the position information to the C-arm control section <b>120</b>, and sends the size information to the aperture control section <b>140</b>.
p-0080When the C-arm control section <b>120</b> receives the position information from the system control section <b>110</b>, the C-arm control section <b>120</b> calculates an amount of movement with which the center of the predetermined mark and the center of an optical axis of the capturing unit <b>152</b> can coincide with each other. The C-arm control section <b>120</b> moves the C-arm <b>121</b> by the amount of movement. Furthermore, when the aperture control section <b>140</b> receives the size information from the system control section <b>110</b>, the aperture control section <b>140</b> determines an amount of aperture with which the radiation range of X-rays can be set to the minimum range required for capturing the fluoroscopic image. The aperture control section <b>140</b> drives the aperture <b>141</b> by the amount of aperture.
p-0081After alignment of the C-arm <b>121</b> and the aperture <b>141</b> that is performed by the C-arm control section <b>120</b> and the aperture control section <b>140</b> is completed, the system control section <b>110</b> sends the X-ray radiation signal to the X-ray control section <b>130</b>. With the X-ray radiation signal, the X-ray-tube drive signal is sent from the X-ray control section <b>130</b> to the X-ray generation section <b>131</b>, and X-rays are emitted from the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> onto the object <b>200</b>.
p-0082Furthermore, when the fluoroscopic image (the radiographic image) is captured in step S<b>206</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of calculating an enlargement ratio of the fluoroscopic image (the radiographic image) from the size information concerning the predetermined mark, and of displaying the captured fluoroscopic image in an enlarged manner in accordance with the calculated enlargement ratio on the first display section <b>170</b>.
p-0083<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is an illustration showing an example of the fluoroscopic image (the radiographic image) that is obtained by capturing which is performed in step S<b>206</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. Herein, in the fluoroscopic image shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>, the portion to be treated is displayed in an enlarged manner, compared with the portion to be treated that is displayed in the fluoroscopic image shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. Note that the fluoroscopic image (the radiographic image) shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> is obtained, for example, in a case in which the predetermined mark is the mark <b>1102</b>, and in which image capturing is performed at the mark <b>1102</b>.
p-0084Furthermore, when the entire image capture button <b>402</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> is selected by the user, the system control section <b>110</b> finishes capturing of an image at the predetermined mark, and performs a process of capturing an image of the entirety of the portion, whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b> again.
p-0085In the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> according to the first embodiment, a mark is displayed on a predetermined portion, which can correspond to a portion to be subjected to surgery, of a still image that is displayed in the GUI <b>190</b>, and, when the displayed mark is selected, capturing of an image of a corresponding portion of the object <b>200</b> that corresponds to the predetermined portion is performed.
p-0086With the above-described configuration, because the position of the portion, which is to be subjected to surgery, of the object <b>200</b> can be checked on the still image that is displayed in the GUI <b>190</b>, the positional relationships between a portion, whose image should be captured, of the object and the portion, which is to be subjected to surgery, of the object can be easily grasped. Additionally, capturing of an image of the corresponding portion of the object <b>200</b> that corresponds to the predetermined portion on which the selected mark is displayed is performed. Accordingly, image capturing can be performed by irradiating only the corresponding portion with X-rays. Thus, reduction in dose of X-rays (radiation) with which the object is irradiated can be realized.
p-0087Moreover, in the first embodiment, image processing is performed on the still image. A potential portion to be treated is considered as the predetermined portion, and a mark is displayed on the potential portion to be treated. Accordingly, even when a plurality of portions to be treated exist in reality, the plurality of portions to be treated are prevented from being missed, and treatment mistakes can be prevented. Furthermore, because the position and size of the mark can be set through a user operation in which the GUI <b>190</b> is operated by the user, the radiation range of X-rays can be set to any range. Thus, a time taken to adjust a position at which an image is to be captured or a time taken to narrow down the radiation range can be reduced when image capturing is performed for treatment, and exposure of the object to unnecessary radiation can be reduced.
h-0013Second Embodiment
p-0088Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
p-0089A schematic configuration of an X-ray image capturing device (a radiographic image capturing device) according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> according to the first embodiment shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.
p-0090Next, a procedure in a method for driving the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> according to the second embodiment will be described.
p-0091<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure in the method for driving the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that an example in which a blood vessel of the object <b>200</b> is applied as an object whose image is to be captured by the capturing unit <b>152</b> is described with reference to the flowchart shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>.
h-0014Step S<b>1401</b>
p-0092In step S<b>1401</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs, for example, in accordance with information that is input from the input section <b>192</b> or the like, control of capturing an image of the entirety of a portion, whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b>, as in step S<b>201</b>.
p-0093More specifically, first, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of driving the C-arm <b>121</b> so that an image of the entirety of a portion (for example, the heart), whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b> can be captured. In addition, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of driving the aperture <b>141</b> to adjust the radiation field of X-rays, and starts image capturing. After that, the system control section <b>110</b> continues image capturing, so that the system control section <b>110</b> captures a moving image of the entirety of the portion, whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b>. For example, when a contrast medium is injected into the blood vessel of the object <b>200</b> via a catheter in a state in which X-rays are emitted from the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> onto the object <b>200</b>, a fluoroscopic image (a radiographic image) showing a state in which the contrast medium is flowing in the blood vessel is displayed on the first display section <b>170</b> in real time. In other words, a fluoroscopic image (a radiographic image) of the entire heart that includes the portions to be treated <b>301</b>, <b>302</b>, and <b>303</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is displayed on the first display section <b>170</b>.
h-0015Step S<b>1402</b>
p-0094Next, in step S<b>1402</b>, for example, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of extracting, in accordance with an instruction that is input to the input section <b>192</b> of the GUI <b>190</b> by a user (a doctor or the like), one still image from the moving image that was captured in step S<b>1401</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs the above-mentioned extraction process is configured as an extraction section. The system control section <b>110</b> performs control of displaying the extracted still image on the second display section <b>191</b> of the GUI <b>190</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs control of displaying the extracted still image as mentioned above is configured as a still-image display control section. In the second embodiment, a case is described, in which an image frame including the clearest image of affected portions is extracted from the fluoroscopic image (the radiographic image) of the entire heart as a still image, and in which the still image is displayed in the GUI <b>190</b>.
p-0095More specifically, in the second embodiment, the user selects, by operating a button (the still-image extraction button <b>403</b> that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> described below) of the GUI <b>190</b> in a state in which the contrast medium extends into the blood vessel of the heart, an image frame with which affected portions that are required to be treated can be most easily detected. In this case, the system control section <b>110</b> extracts, in accordance with a selection operation that is performed by the user, a still image with which affected portions that are required to be treated can be easily detected. The system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of displaying the extracted still image on the second display section <b>191</b> of the GUI <b>190</b>. The details of the process of step S<b>1402</b> will be described below.
p-0096<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of the GUI <b>190</b> that is used in the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Herein, <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> shows the display screen of the second display section <b>191</b>. Furthermore, elements shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> that are the same as elements shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> are denoted by the same reference numerals. Herein, in the GUI <b>190</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, a system finish button <b>1504</b> is provided instead of the entire image capture button <b>402</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref>, and a capture finish button <b>1505</b> is provided instead of the details button <b>407</b>.
p-0097When the still-image extraction button <b>403</b> is selected by the user, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of sending an instruction to the image processing section <b>162</b>, and of extracting, as a still image, an image frame that is displayed on the first display section <b>170</b> at a point in time in which the still-image extraction button <b>403</b> is selected. Simultaneously, the system control section <b>110</b> obtains, from the C-arm control section <b>120</b>, position information that was obtained at a point in time in which the extracted still image was captured, and displays the position information together with the extracted still image in the GUI <b>190</b>. More specifically, in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, an example is shown, in which the extracted still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>is displayed in the display region <b>401</b>, and in which the obtained position information is displayed as the position information <b>409</b>.
p-0098In the above-described example, a configuration is described, in which a still image is extracted through a user operation in which the GUI <b>190</b> is operated by the user while a moving image of the object <b>200</b> is being captured. However, in the second embodiment, the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, a configuration may be used, in which, after capturing of a moving image finishes in order to specify portions, which are to be treated, of the object <b>200</b> (portions, which are to be subjected to surgery, of the object <b>200</b>), the moving image (image data) that is stored in the recording section <b>180</b> is reproduced on the first display section <b>170</b>, and in which an image that is selected through a manual operation by the user (the doctor or the like) is extracted from the moving image. In this case, the image (which is a still image) that is selected by the user through the manual operation using the GUI <b>190</b> is displayed in the GUI <b>190</b>.
h-0016Step S<b>1403</b>
p-0099Next, in step S<b>1403</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of setting (marking), in accordance with an instruction that is input to the GUI <b>190</b> by the user (the doctor or the like), portions which seem to be required to be treated or whose images seem to be required to be captured, i.e., portions to be treated, on the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>.
p-0100More specifically, when the user inputs coordinates that are located in the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>using the input section <b>192</b> such as a mouse or a touch panel, the system control section <b>110</b> marks portions to be treated <b>1501</b><i>a</i>, <b>1502</b><i>a</i>, and <b>1503</b><i>a </i>shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> on the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>in accordance with the input coordinates.
p-0101Herein, each of the portions to be treated <b>1501</b><i>a</i>, <b>1502</b><i>a</i>, and <b>1503</b><i>a </i>corresponds to coordinates that are input through an instruction provided by the user.
h-0017Step S<b>1404</b>
p-0102Next, in step S<b>1404</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of displaying initial marks, each of which indicates that an image has not been captured, on the still image <b>401</b> so that the center of each of the initial marks is positioned at coordinates that correspond to a corresponding one of the portions to be treated that were set (marked) in step S<b>1403</b> and the initial mark has a predetermined size. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs control of displaying marks as mentioned above is configured as a mark display control section. In this case, the system control section <b>110</b> also performs a process of recording attribute information concerning the displayed marks as an attribute information table, for example, in the recording section <b>180</b>. The attribute information table concerning the marks will be described below.
p-0103In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, initial marks <b>1501</b> to <b>1503</b> are displayed so that the center of each of the initial marks <b>1501</b> to <b>1503</b> is positioned at coordinates that correspond to a corresponding one of the portions to be treated <b>1501</b><i>a</i>, <b>1502</b><i>a</i>, and <b>1503</b><i>a </i>and each of the initial marks <b>1501</b> to <b>1503</b> is formed as a (red) circular graphics frame indicating that an image has not been captured (indicating that treatment has not been performed). Furthermore, when the user (the doctor or the like) operates the zoom-in button <b>404</b>, the zoom-out button <b>405</b>, the move button <b>406</b>, or the like of the GUI <b>190</b> in accordance with the size of each of the portions to be treated, whereby the position and size of a corresponding one of the initial marks can be changed. Herein, a method in which an initial mark is displayed in a predetermined size is described. However, for example, when the user provides an instruction for specifying a portion to be treated using the mouse or the like, the user may input coordinates of two points, i.e., coordinates of upper-left and lower-right points, so that the two points surround an affected portion to obtain a rectangular region defined using the two points, and may set the size of a mark so that the mark includes the obtained rectangular region.
h-0018Step S<b>1405</b>
p-0104Next, in step S<b>1405</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> determines whether or not one of the marks that were displayed in the GUI <b>190</b> has been selected by the user. Herein, for example, the user can select any one of the marks by double-clicking the mouse or the like that is the input section <b>192</b>. Furthermore, any one of the marks can be selected not only by double-clicking the mouse but also via a different input device such as a touch panel.
p-0105Herein, the attribute information table concerning the marks that were displayed in step S<b>1404</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> will be described.
p-0106<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of the attribute information table concerning the marks that were displayed in step S<b>1404</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>. As described above, the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is recorded, for example, in the recording section <b>180</b>.
p-0107Herein, in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> in the second embodiment, for each mark, a mark identification (ID), position information and size information concerning the mark, a capture state, a capture time, a dose of X-rays, a final frame including a captured image, and so forth are shown in relation to one another. For example, when the GUI <b>190</b> is operated by the user, the system control section <b>110</b> searches, in accordance with the position information that is listed in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, a mark region in which coordinates of a mark selected by double-clicking the mouse are located, thereby specifying the selected mark. Furthermore, in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, for example, a mark having a mark ID of MK<b>001</b> corresponds to the mark <b>1501</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, a mark having a mark ID of MK<b>002</b> corresponds to the mark <b>1502</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>, and a mark having a mark ID of MK<b>003</b> corresponds to the mark <b>1503</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>.
p-0108<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 17</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of the position information and the size information that are listed in the attribute information table concerning the marks which is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>. In <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 17</figref>, a case in which the mark having a mark ID of MK<b>001</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is displayed is illustrated.
p-0109For example, regarding the mark having a mark ID of MK<b>001</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, a region that is surrounded by four points, i.e., M<b>1</b>P<b>1</b>, M<b>1</b>P<b>2</b>, M<b>1</b>P<b>3</b>, and M<b>1</b>P<b>4</b>, is defined as the position information concerning the mark. Furthermore, a circle is defined so that the center of the circle is M<b>1</b>P<b>0</b> which is the center of the region, and a radius M<b>1</b>L of the circle is defined as the size information concerning the mark. Accordingly, for example, supposing that coordinates which are selected by the user by double-clicking the mouse is IN(X, Y), whether or not IN (X, Y) is located in a region of the mark having a mark ID of MK<b>001</b> can be determined. When IN (X, Y) is located in the region of the mark having a mark ID of MK<b>001</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> further determines that the mark having a mark ID of MK<b>001</b> has been selected.
p-0110As a result of determination in step S<b>1405</b>, when none of the marks displayed in the GUI <b>190</b> has been selected, the system control section <b>110</b> waits in step S<b>1405</b> until one of the marks displayed in the GUI <b>190</b> is selected. In contrast, as a result of determination in step S<b>1405</b>, when one of the marks displayed in the GUI <b>190</b> has been selected, the system control section <b>110</b> proceeds to step S<b>1406</b>.
h-0019Step S<b>1406</b>
p-0111When the system control section <b>110</b> proceeds to step S<b>1406</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of terminating image capturing that has been performed. Note that, in the process of terminating image capturing in step S<b>1406</b>, not only a process of terminating capturing of an image of the entirety of the portion, whose image should be captured, of the object <b>200</b>, which was performed in step S<b>1401</b>, but also a process of terminating capturing of an image of the portion, which is to be treated, of the object <b>200</b>, which was performed in a loop including steps S<b>1405</b> to S<b>1411</b>, is performed. Furthermore, image capturing can be terminated in step S<b>1406</b> in response to a user operation in which the capture finish button <b>1505</b> that is provided in the GUI <b>190</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> is operated by the user.
h-0020Step S<b>1407</b>
p-0112In step S<b>1407</b>, first, the system control section <b>110</b> searches, in response to performance of the process of terminating image capturing in step S<b>1406</b>, the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> for a mark whose capture state is in a mode of “being captured”. When a mark whose capture state is in the mode of “being captured” exists, the system control section <b>110</b> changes the capture state of the mark in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> to a mode of “captured”, and changes a display form of the mark to a display form indicating that an image has been “captured” in the GUI <b>190</b>. Furthermore, the system control section <b>110</b> records, as information concerning the mark in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, a capture time taken to capture an image in the region of the mark and a dose of X-rays that are emitted in the capture time. Additionally, the system control section <b>110</b> displays the information concerning the mark at a predetermined position that is calculated on the basis of the position information concerning the mark in the GUI <b>190</b>.
p-0113<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 18</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of the GUI <b>190</b> after the process of step S<b>1407</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is performed.
p-0114In the example shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 18</figref>, a case is illustrated, in which image capturing has finished at the mark <b>1501</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> (the mark having a mark ID of MK<b>001</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>). The mark <b>1501</b> has been changed to a mark <b>1801</b> indicating that an image has been captured, and the mark <b>1801</b> is displayed. More specifically, the mark <b>1501</b> was displayed as a graphics frame with a (red) solid line indicating that an image has not been captured (indicating that treatment has not been performed). However, because image capturing has finished at the mark <b>1501</b>, the mark <b>1501</b> has been changed to the mark <b>1801</b> that is displayed as a graphics frame with a (blue) dotted line indicating that an image has been captured. Furthermore, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of displaying the capture time and the dose of X-rays, which were recorded in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, as capture-time information <b>1802</b> and X-ray dose information <b>1803</b>, respectively, in the GUI <b>190</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs control of displaying capture-time information and X-ray dose information as mentioned above is configured as an information display control section. In this case, because a state of an affected portion is displayed in the mark <b>1801</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> displays the capture-time information <b>1802</b> and the X-ray dose information <b>1803</b> at the lower-right side of the mark <b>1801</b> in relation to the mark <b>1801</b> so that the capture-time information <b>1802</b> and the X-ray dose information <b>1803</b> do not cover the inside of the mark <b>1801</b>.
h-0021Step S<b>1408</b>
p-0115Next, in step S<b>1408</b>, first, the system control section <b>110</b> saves, in the attribution information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, a final frame of the moving image. Capturing of the moving image finished in step S<b>1406</b>. Furthermore, the system control section <b>110</b> reduces the size of the final frame in accordance with the size of the mark whose display form was changed in the step S<b>1407</b>, and superimposes the final frame on the region of the mark on the still image <b>401</b><i>a </i>in the GUI <b>190</b> as a mask image. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs the above-mentioned superimposing process is configured as a superimposing section. For example, the final frame that is listed in the attribution information table concerning the marks which is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> is displayed in a reduced manner in a region of the mark <b>1801</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 18</figref>. In this manner, the final frame (after treatment is performed) is superimposed on the still image <b>401</b><i>a</i>, whereby a state of a portion corresponding to the mark after treatment is performed can be checked.
h-0022Step S<b>1409</b>
p-0116Next, in step S<b>1409</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of changing the display form of the (one) mark that was selected in step S<b>1405</b>.
p-0117<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 19</figref> is a schematic illustration showing an example of the GUI <b>190</b> after the process of step S<b>1409</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> is performed.
p-0118In the example shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 19</figref>, a case is illustrated, in which the mark <b>1502</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 18</figref> (the mark having a mark ID of MK<b>002</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>) is selected in step S<b>1405</b>. The mark <b>1502</b> has been changed to a mark <b>1902</b> indicating that an image is being captured, and the mark <b>1902</b> is displayed. More specifically, the mark <b>1502</b> was displayed as a graphics frame with a (red) solid line indicating that an image has not been captured (indicating that treatment has not been performed). However, the mark <b>1902</b> is displayed as a graphics frame, the inside of which is filled with a (red) color indicating that an image is being captured. In this case, the system control section <b>110</b> changes the capture state of the mark (having a mark ID of MK<b>002</b>) to the mode of “being captured” in the attribute information table concerning the marks which is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>.
h-0023Step S<b>1410</b>
p-0119Next, in step S<b>1410</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs control of capturing a fluoroscopic image (a radiographic image) of a portion to be treated that is a corresponding portion of the object <b>200</b> which corresponds to the mark selected in step S<b>1405</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs control of capturing an image as mentioned above is configured as a capture control section. Note that, although image capturing starts in response to selection of a mark in step S<b>1405</b>, in addition, a configuration may be used, in which image capturing starts, for example, in response to a user operation in which a foot pedal (that is the input section <b>192</b>) is pressed by the user.
p-0120More specifically, first, the system control section <b>110</b> reads, from the attribute information table shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>, position information and size information concerning the mark (having a mark ID of MK<b>002</b>) that was selected in step S<b>1405</b>. The system control section <b>110</b> sends the position information to the C-arm control section <b>120</b>, and sends the size information to the aperture control section <b>140</b>.
p-0121When the C-arm control section <b>120</b> receives the position information from the system control section <b>110</b>, the C-arm control section <b>120</b> calculates, from the position information, an amount of movement with which the center of the mark and the center of the optical axis of the capturing unit <b>152</b> can coincide with each other. The C-arm control section <b>120</b> moves the C-arm <b>121</b> by the amount of movement. Furthermore, when the aperture control section <b>140</b> receives the size information from the system control section <b>110</b>, the aperture control section <b>140</b> determines, from the size information, an amount of aperture with which the radiation range of X-rays can be set to the minimum range required for capturing the fluoroscopic image. The aperture control section <b>140</b> drives the aperture <b>141</b> by the amount of aperture. After alignment of the C-arm <b>121</b> and the aperture <b>141</b> that is performed by the C-arm control section <b>120</b> and the aperture control section <b>140</b> is completed, the system control section <b>110</b> sends the X-ray radiation signal to the X-ray control section <b>130</b>. With the X-ray radiation signal, the X-ray-tube drive signal is sent from the X-ray control section <b>130</b> to the X-ray generation section <b>131</b>, and X-rays are emitted from the X-ray generation section <b>131</b> onto the object <b>200</b>.
h-0024Step S<b>1411</b>
p-0122Next, in step S<b>1411</b>, the system control section <b>110</b> performs a process of calculating an enlargement ratio of the fluoroscopic image (the radiographic image) from the size information concerning the mark that was selected in step S<b>1405</b>, and of displaying the captured fluoroscopic image in an enlarged manner in accordance with the calculated enlargement ratio on the first display section <b>170</b>.
p-0123<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 20</figref> is an illustration showing an example of the fluoroscopic image (the radiographic image) that is displayed by performing the display process of step S<b>1411</b> shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref>. Herein, in the fluoroscopic image shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 20</figref>, the portion to be treated is displayed in an enlarged manner, compared with the portion to be treated that is displayed in the fluoroscopic image shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.
p-0124When the process of step S<b>1411</b> finishes, the system control section <b>110</b> returns to step S<b>1405</b>, and the processes onward from step S<b>1405</b> are performed again.
p-0125Furthermore, when capturing of an image of the portion to be treated that corresponds to the mark <b>1902</b> finishes when the GUI <b>190</b> is in a state shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 19</figref>, the mark <b>1902</b> is changed to a display form (a graphics frame with a (blue) dotted line) indicating that an image has been “captured”, which is shown as a mark <b>2102</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 21</figref>. Moreover, as in the case of the mark <b>1801</b>, capture-time information <b>2103</b> and X-ray dose information <b>2104</b> are displayed at the lower-right side of the mark <b>2102</b>. In this case, the capture state, the capture time, and the X-ray dose are also updated in the attribute information table concerning the marks that is shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref>.
p-0126In this state, in a case in which the capture states of all of the marks that are registered in the attribute information table shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 16</figref> are not in the mode of “captured” when the system finish button <b>1504</b> is operated by the user, the system control section <b>110</b> displays a notification to draw user's attention to the fact that a portion which has not been treated exists. In an example shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 21</figref>, the system control section <b>110</b> displays not-yet-captured information <b>2101</b> as a text in the region of the (not-yet-selected) mark <b>1503</b> that corresponds to a portion which has not been treated, thereby providing a notification that a (not-yet-selected) mark corresponding to a portion which has not been treated exists to the user. The system control section <b>110</b> that performs the above-mentioned notification process is configured as a notification section. Note that, in the second embodiment, the display form for notifying the user that a portion which has not been treated exists is not limited to that shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 21</figref>. In order to notify the user that a portion which has not been treated exists, for example, the color of a mark corresponding to the portion that has not been treated may be changed, or the mark may be displayed so as to blink.
p-0127In the X-ray image capturing device <b>100</b> according to the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration in the first embodiment, the display form of a mark in the GUI <b>190</b> can be changed in accordance with the capture state of the mark.
p-0128With the above-described configuration, a state of capturing an image, which is used for treatment, of a portion to be treated, which is a portion to be subjected to surgery, i.e., whether or not an image of the portion has been captured (whether or not the portion has been treated), can be checked simply using the display form of a mark.
p-0129Furthermore, in case in which a mark that has not been selected exists among the plurality of marks that are displayed in the GUI <b>190</b> when image capturing using the capturing unit <b>152</b> finishes, the fact that a mark which has not been selected exists is notified. Accordingly, the mark that has not been selected can be prevented from being missed.
p-0130The steps shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 14</figref> illustrating the methods for driving the X-ray image capturing devices (the radiographic image capturing devices) according to the above-described embodiments can be realized, for example, by executing a program that is stored in a random-access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM) with a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. The program and a computer-readable storage medium on which the program is recorded may each be provided in another embodiment of the present invention.
p-0131More specifically, the program is recorded on a storage medium such as a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), or is provided to the computer via various types of transmission media. As the storage medium on which the program is recorded, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, a non-volatile memory card, or the like can be used instead of a CD-ROM. As the various types of transmission media for the program, communication media in a system of a computer network, which includes a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a radio communication network, and so forth, for supplying the program by transmitting program information as a carrier wave can be used. Moreover, as the communication media in this case, wire links such as optical fibers or wireless links may be used.
p-0132Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to an embodiment in which functions of the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to any one of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the supplied program with the computer. Also when the functions of the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to any one of the above-described embodiments are realized by the program in collaboration with an operating system (OS) that operates in the computer, other application software, or the like, the program may be provided in another embodiment of the present invention. Additionally, also when the functions of the X-ray image capturing device (the radiographic image capturing device) according to any one of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing all of or some of processes of the supplied program with a functionally expanded board or functionally expanded unit of the computer, the program may be provided in another embodiment of the present invention.
p-0133While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
p-0134This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-158457, filed Jun. 17, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Contents5
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| Advisory Action (PTOL-303)CTAV | CTAV | |
| Date Forwarded to ExaminerFWDX | FWDX | |
| Response after Final ActionA.NE | A.NE | |
| PILOT- Request for After Final Consideration ProgramRAFC | RAFC | |
| Electronic ReviewELC_RVW | ELC_RVW | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTF | EML_NTF | |
| Mail Final Rejection (PTOL - 326)Final rejectionMCTFR | MCTFR | |
| Final RejectionFinal rejectionCTFR | CTFR | |
| Date Forwarded to ExaminerFWDX | FWDX | |
| Response after Non-Final ActionA... | A... | |
| Electronic ReviewELC_RVW | ELC_RVW | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTF | EML_NTF | |
| Mail Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionMCTNF | MCTNF | |
| Non-Final RejectionNon-final rejectionCTNF | CTNF | |
| Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK | DOCK | |
| Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK | DOCK | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTR | EML_NTR | |
| PG-Pub Issue NotificationPG-ISSUE | PG-ISSUE | |
| Case Docketed to Examiner in GAUDOCK | DOCK | |
| Application Dispatched from OIPEOIPE | OIPE | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTR | EML_NTR | |
| Email NotificationEML_NTR | EML_NTR | |
| Filing ReceiptFLRCPT.O | FLRCPT.O | |
| Notice of DO/EO Acceptance MailedM903 | M903 | |
| Sent to Classification ContractorPGPC | PGPC | |
| Cleared by OIPE CSRL194 | L194 | |
| Information Disclosure Statement consideredIDSC | IDSC | |
| Request for Foreign Priority (Priority Papers May Be Included)RQPR | RQPR | |
| Electronic Information Disclosure StatementEIDS. | EIDS. | |
| 371 Completion Date371COMP | 371COMP | |
| Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) FiledWIDS | WIDS | |
| Initial Exam Team nnIEXX | IEXX |
5 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee payment procedureMAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITYFEPP | FEPP | |
| Maintenance fee paymentMAFP | MAFP | |
| Maintenance fee paymentMAFP | MAFP | |
| Information on status: patent grantGrantedPATENTED CASESTCF | STCF | |
| AssignmentAS | AS |
Numbers
- Publication
- 08873708
- Application
- 99929909
Titles
- English
- Radiographic image capturing device and method
Patent term adjustment
- A delay
- +618 daysthe office missed an examination deadline
- B delay
- +297 dayspendency past three years
- Net adjustment
- 915 days
Classification
- IPC, 3
- A61B6 00
- A61B6 06
- H05G1 64